The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a higher-priced laptop with better performance for tasks like engineering or 3D work, thanks to its more powerful processor and ample storage and memory. It has a larger and higher-resolution screen, which is better for productivity and multimedia, but this may impact battery life and portability. On the other hand, the Gateway 11.6" is a budget-friendly option that's more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, making it convenient for everyday tasks and travel; however, it has less storage, memory, and a lower-powered processor, which may not be suitable for intensive tasks. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
5.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
5.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is equipped with a much more powerful GPU and a higher resolution screen, making it better suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Gateway 11.6", which has a lower-end GPU and screen resolution. While the Dell's advanced graphics and screen quality enhance gaming experiences, the Gateway, with its basic components, lacks the performance and screen clarity required for those purposes.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
5.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is suited for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and high-quality IPS display with a higher resolution, while the Gateway 11.6" falls short for these tasks because it has a less capable Intel Celeron processor, only 4 GB of RAM, and a lower-resolution screen, which negatively impact the performance and visual detail necessary for such applications. Additionally, although the Gateway is more portable, the Dell's superior CPU, RAM, and screen make it a better fit for demanding engineering and design software that requires robust processing power and clear visuals.
Content Creation
7.9/10
5.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
5.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
5.7/10
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a higher resolution and brighter display, making it suitable for general use and detailed engineering tasks where crisp visuals are important; however, with a standard refresh rate, it falls short for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The Gateway 11.6" has a lower resolution and brightness, leading to a less sharp and dimmer experience not ideal for any of the mentioned use cases, and like the Dell, it lacks a high refresh rate, making it unsuitable for 3D work that demands fluid motion. Both laptops have screens that may not fully cover professional color gamuts, which is a disadvantage for color-critical engineering and design work, but the Dell likely has a better coverage, making it the more preferable option for such tasks.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
5.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$808
$89
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Gateway 11.6"
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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